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Blackmoor (supplement)
Encyclopedia
Blackmoor is a supplementary rulebook for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
written by Dave Arneson
(with a foreword by Gary Gygax
). Its product designation is TSR 2004.
and assassin
character classes
, and hit location rules.
The booklet was named for Dave Arneson's original role-playing campaign world
, Blackmoor
. It has additional rules, monsters, treasure, and the first role-playing game adventure
ever published, The Temple of the Frog. Despite the name, the supplement did not include any information on the setting itself.
Blackmoor added two new character classes
to the game: the asssassin, a thief
sub-class, and the monk, a "monastic martial arts
" cleric
sub-class, with some attributes of the fighter
and thief classes. The book also introduces a hit location system, wherein each individual body part of a character or monster was assigned its own hit points. The odds of hitting any specific body part changed depending on the character's height and weapon reach, and if any individual body part was brought down to zero hit points, the creature would be crippled or killed.
The supplement also introduces rules for underwater adventures. Rules for swimming, equipment weight restrictions when fighting underwater, and the effects of underwater combat on weapons and spells are all covered by this supplement. Blackmoor also includes numerous new water-dwelling monsters and equipment useful for underwater adventures.
and published by TSR, Inc.
in 1975, as a sixty page digest-sized book. Blackmoor was the second supplement to the original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set
and bears the designation "Supplement II", with Greyhawk
preceding it in the same year.
Illustrations were provided by David C. Sutherland III
, Mike Bell, Tracy Lesch. The supplement was edited by Tim Kask
, who also did development on it.
The Temple of the Frog was later revised, expanded, and released as DA2 Temple of the Frog
.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
written by Dave Arneson
Dave Arneson
David Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
(with a foreword by Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
). Its product designation is TSR 2004.
Contents
Blackmoor is the second supplement to the original D&D rules, and includes rules for underwater adventures, the monkMonk (Dungeons & Dragons)
The monk is a playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A D&D monk is a fantasy martial artist, specializing in unarmed combat.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
and assassin
Assassin (Dungeons & Dragons)
The assassin is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It first appeared in 1975 in the Blackmoor supplement, as a thief sub-class. It next appeared in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons again as a thief sub-class...
character classes
Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)
A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by his or her chosen class; choosing a class is one of the first steps a player takes in order to...
, and hit location rules.
The booklet was named for Dave Arneson's original role-playing campaign world
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, Blackmoor
Blackmoor
Blackmoor is a fantasy role-playing game campaign setting generally associated with the game Dungeons & Dragons. It originally evolved in the early 1970s as the personal setting of Dave Arneson, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, first as a setting for Arneson's miniature wargames, then as an...
. It has additional rules, monsters, treasure, and the first role-playing game adventure
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
ever published, The Temple of the Frog. Despite the name, the supplement did not include any information on the setting itself.
Blackmoor added two new character classes
Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)
A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by his or her chosen class; choosing a class is one of the first steps a player takes in order to...
to the game: the asssassin, a thief
Rogue (Dungeons & Dragons)
The rogue or thief is one of the standard playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A rogue is a versatile character, capable of sneaky combat and nimble tricks...
sub-class, and the monk, a "monastic martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
" cleric
Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
sub-class, with some attributes of the fighter
Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)
The fighter is one of the standard playable character classes in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A fighter is a versatile, weapons-oriented warrior who fights using skill, strategy and tactics....
and thief classes. The book also introduces a hit location system, wherein each individual body part of a character or monster was assigned its own hit points. The odds of hitting any specific body part changed depending on the character's height and weapon reach, and if any individual body part was brought down to zero hit points, the creature would be crippled or killed.
The supplement also introduces rules for underwater adventures. Rules for swimming, equipment weight restrictions when fighting underwater, and the effects of underwater combat on weapons and spells are all covered by this supplement. Blackmoor also includes numerous new water-dwelling monsters and equipment useful for underwater adventures.
Publication history
Blackmoor was written by Dave ArnesonDave Arneson
David Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
and published by TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
in 1975, as a sixty page digest-sized book. Blackmoor was the second supplement to the original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set
Dungeons & Dragons (1974)
The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
and bears the designation "Supplement II", with Greyhawk
Greyhawk (supplement)
Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax and Robert J. Kuntz for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
preceding it in the same year.
Illustrations were provided by David C. Sutherland III
David C. Sutherland III
David C. Sutherland III was an early Dungeons & Dragons artist. Sutherland was a prolific artist and his work heavily influenced the early development of Dungeons & Dragons.-Early life and inspiration:...
, Mike Bell, Tracy Lesch. The supplement was edited by Tim Kask
Tim Kask
Timothy James Kask is an American editor and writer in the role-playing game industry. Kask became interested in board games in his childhood, and later turned to miniatures wargames...
, who also did development on it.
The Temple of the Frog was later revised, expanded, and released as DA2 Temple of the Frog
Temple of the Frog
Temple of the Frog is a 48-page 1986 adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Its module code is DA2 and its TSR product code is TSR 9175...
.
External links
- http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11381.phtml
- http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12622.phtml